bartholomay



March 17, 1964 Filed March '7, 1963 VR. P. BARTHOLOMAY 3,125,268

WEB INVERTER ARRANGEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 RT R BARTHOLOMAY ROBEINVENTOR.

BY 7.. '1 9M ATTORNEYS March 17, 1964 R. P. BARTHOLOMAY 3,125,268

WEB INVERTER ARRANGEMENT Filed March 7, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTOR/VEY5 of New Jersey Filed Mar. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 263,578 14 Claims. (Cl.226-97) This invention relates to a web inverter and, more particularly,to an air cushion web inverter device useful for inverting webs having asurface which might be damaged by physical contact.

In the manufacture of webs, particularly webs which are coated withmaterials subject to smearing or scratching considerations, it has beenthe practice to dry these webs, usually on conveyors, until they may behandled without damage. One approach to the problem has been to coat orprint only one side of the web, whereby the other side of the web may betransported in contact with rollers without damage to the web. However,such an arrangement prevents coating of both sides of a web materialwhile a first coated side is still too soft or wet for handling. Thisproblem is particularly acute in photographic film manufacture where itis normal practice to apply one or more coatings to each side of a baseor support web. Using prior art arrangements, the web is usually hung onloop conveyers which transport it through a dryer With sufficientduration to dry at first coating before a second coating may be applied.Another approach to the problem has been to twist the web which, with aweb of substantial width such as 48", results in rather large equipmentand many square feet of floor space.

Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is to provide areliable and compact air cushion web inverter.

One embodiment of the present invention utilizes a hollow equilateraltriangular web inverter having a plurality of apertures throughout thepath of a web wrapped therearound. Air supplied to the hollow inverterpasses through apertures to impinge upon and support a wet or softsurface of the web being inverted, with the web following a tortuouspath including three 120 inversion bends whereby the web is ultimatelyinverted in a substantially straightline continuous path.

The subject matter which is regarded as my invention is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of thisspecification. The invention, however, as to its organization andoperation together with further objects and advantages thereof, willbest be understood by reference to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side plan view of the web during its path overtheweb inverter;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the web inverter of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the web inverter of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2illustrating one conduit arrangement;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the conduitarrangement; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numbers refer to similarparts, a soft web 16 having a smearable or soft lower surface isinverted as shown in FIG. 1 by moving from left to right as follows: Thefar side of the soft web 10 initially folds over a first curved portion12 (FIG. 2) of the inverter and shortly thereafter the intermediatesection and near side also fold over the curve 12. Thus inverted, thesoft web 10 moves forward (out of the paper) with the near sidefirst'engaging and mov- United States Patent 0 "ice ing over a secondcurved portion 13 (FIG. 2) of the inverter. Lastly, the near side of thesoft web (now being the far side) again first inverts at the curvedregion as at 14 whereby the web has been inverted in a straightlinepath.

This action is more easily seen in FIG. 2, where the soft web 10 isshown in phantom with its position being under control of lateralpositioning means 15 which present the soft web 10 to the equilateralinverter 16 in a line parallel to one side, such as the curved side 13.As will be understood by analogy to light reflections, the web is alsopresented so that its center line effectively follows paths in each lapwhich are equidistant from the center of the inverter 16. The inverter16, in accordance with the present invention, is shown in solid linesand is provided with enclosed cut-off portions 17, 18 and 19 at thethree corners to provide suitable conduit access area so that airpressure may be provided within the inverter. These corner cut-offregions 17, 18 and 19 also provide useful support access regions atpoints remote from the web path.

The far side of the web 10, as referred to in connection with FIG. 1, isdesignated A and shown at the top of the input portion of FIG. 2, andthe near side is designated B. The soft web 10 is one which has at leasta lower surface which may be damaged by contact with solids. It proceedsover the top surface of the inverter 16 in a first lap of travel withthe side A first reaching the curved portion 12. Later, side B finishesits first lap and moves over the curved portion 12. Slide B has a longertravel distance over the top surface and shorter distance in a secondlap of travel beneath the inverter 16, as indicated by the dashed linesA and B. The side B first reaches the curved portion 13 with the side Ahaving travelled a greater distance. With reference to the last curvedportion 14, the side A now travels the shorter distance in the third lapof travel, whereby it is inverted by the curved portion 14 prior to sideB". Thus, the soft web 19 leavesthe inverter 16 in a fourth lap oftravel, having sides A' and B, reversed by comparison to sides A and B.By using the equilateral configuration and the controlled presentation,the soft web 10 has been inverted with sides A and B traveling equaldistances and side 13'' aligned with side A. Such inversion leaves thesoft surface of the web 10 on top whereby the lower surface may beprocessed without waiting for additional drying of the soft surface, nowon top. It is fairly obvious that at least some tension must bemaintained on the soft web 10 during its inversion. However, thetensioning means is most often within downstream processing equipment,which is not a portion of the present invention.

Initially, the soft-web 10 is engaged and supported by air flowing froma plurality of apertures or orifices in rows 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24. Theprovision of rows of apertures which remain aligned throughout all fourlaps of travel, as distinguished from random apertures, allows valvingcontrol of each row whereby webs of substantially different widths maybe transported with equal facility by the inverter 16. Thus, each of therows 20-24 supports a particular lateral section of the web throughoutits traversal of the inverter. Usually, since air will tend to escapemore rapidly from the outermost rows, the air pressure applied to theouter rows will be greater than that applied to the inner rows.

As is shown more clearly in FIG. 3, the inverter 16 is stepped so thatthe soft web 10 does not rub upon itself during its passage in theoverlapping laps of the present inversion process. An input step 26supporting the soft web surface during its first lap of travel issubstantially above a base plate surface 28 supporting the web in itsthird lap. Also, an output step 30 supporting the web during its fourthlap of travel is substantially below the bed plate surface 32 supportingthe web on its second lap. The depth of the steps 26 and 30 isdetermined by the tension in the soft Web 10 as well as its thicknessand width. Usually one inch will be suflicient for the step 26, with thestep 30 being similar or larger de pending on the expected droop of theweb in the second lap of travel compared to the droop in the fourth lap.

Referring now to FIG. 4, one valving control arrangement is illustratedwherein each of the rows 20-24 is supplied by separate conduit nozzles34, 35, 36, 37 and 38, respectively. The conduit nozzles each supplyfluid such as air to each of the apertures of the rows 20-24. Ifdesired, this air may be heated or cooled to process further the softsurface. The air is supplied to the conduit nozzles 34-38 throughconduits 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44, each of which is coupled by a controlvalve 46, 47, 48, 49 and 50, respectively, to a pressure tank 52. Whenit is desired to transport a web having a maximum width over the aircushion web inverter 16 of my invention, all valves 46-50 will be openedat least partially to provide an air cushion support of the full widthof the web. If, on the other hand, a smaller web is transported having,for instance, a width 60% that of the maximum width web, only three outof five of the valves 46-50 would be open, preferably with the ones onthe extreme lateral positions 46 and 50 being closed so that the web maybe transported over the central portion of the inverter 16. Such centraltransport will maintain alignment of the web input and output sections.However, with the several access regions or corners 17, 18 and 19 beingassembled for allowing conduits as well as support, the web may betransported on fewer than all of the rows of apertures and one or moreof the valves at one end may be closed without developing damagingunbalance of the system.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the rows of orifices 20-24 have been eliminatedand the surface of the web inverter 16 is made with small porousopenings or apertures with porous strips 20', 21', 22', 23' and 24 againhaving air supplied selectively through the conduit nozzles 34-38 andvalves 46-50. This arrangement also provides support to individualregions or rows so that webs of various widths may be transported withfacility. FIG. also illustrates air loss reduction flanges 54 which tendto reduce the loss of air from the outer rows of apertures. I preferthat these flanges 54 be substantially below the soft surface of the webin one embodiment wherein the web is of a predetermined width. Inanother embodiment wherein the web 10 is of a fixed width, the flanges54 extend slightly above the edges of the web to provide guide meansthroughout the length of the tortuous path traversed thereby. When usingsuch flanges 54, I prefer to omit substantially all of the intermediateapertures of the rows 21-23 or 21-23 and provide air only at thebeginning and end of the tortuous path except for the outer rows 20 and24 or 20' and 24.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a 45 right angle, triangular inverter 16 isillustrated for use in applications where it is preferred to slightlyoffset the path of the soft web 10 in the inversion process. In otherwords, the output side A of the fourth lap output is no longer alignedwith the input side A. It is fairly obvious that the amount of offsetattainable by use of the inverter 1-6 is controllable by varying thedesign. Also, it is apparent that only one step portion 30 is requiredin this configuration and that this step portion, although shown as theoutput step, could be on the input step by simply reversing thedirection of movement of the web 10 on the construction illustrated. Inusing this embodiment, the Web 10 is presented perpendicular to thehypotenuse. Another detail that differs from the construction shown inFIG. 2 is the access region 17 which may be made substantially largerthan is usually convenient with the equilateral construction.

By analogy to optical reflections, other triangular configurations willinvert the soft web 10 and will usually tend to change its line ofmotion. However, the selection of the line of presentation of the web toan acute triangular inverter configuration will result in alignment orparalleling of the input and output laps. Moreover, the directing of thesoft web 10 toward the inverter 16 at an angle other than perpendicularto the hypotenuse will result in the fourth lap being other thanparallel to the first lap. However, this is not usually desirable instandard flow processes where it is most often the case that equipmentsare most conveniently placed in lines parallel to the sides of abuilding.

While I have shown and described particular embodiments of the presentinvention, other modifications may occur to those skilled in this art.For instance, when my invention is used in an established processwherein the width of the soft web 10 may not be reasonably expected tobe varied, the rows of apertures 20-24 may be made random, the conduitnozzles 34-38 may be omitted, and all but one of the conduits 40-44 andthe valves 46-50 may be omitted. In such an arrangement, I prefer thatthe peripheral apertures be either larger or more dense than the innerones. Moreover, with wide Webs, the apertures in the region of thesecond lap should be reduced to conserve air because of some expecteddroop of the web 10. Preferably, a portion of the apertures should beomitted, especially in the region adjacent to side A, as this part ofthe web 10 tends to droop the most, whereby gravity will accomplishseparation of the web from the surface 32. Also, the configuration ofFIG. 6, for example, will reverse the soft web 10 without inversion ifthe fourth lap is omitted. I intend, therefore, to have the appendedclaims cover all modifications which fall within the true spirit andscope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A web inverter arrangement for inverting a web having at least onesoft surface comprising:

a hollow body portion having a triangular, equilateral cross section anddefining a plurality of surface apertures throughout a tortuous paththerearound having a first, second, third and fourth lap portion withalternate laps overlapping and with curved portions between each of thelaps;

means for presenting a web to said body portion so that it may followsaid tortuous path lap by lap;

an input step portion defining the level of the first lap and having athickness sufficient to prevent contact of the web upon itself whiletraversing both the first lap and the third lap;

a second similar step portion defining the level of the fourth lap toseparate the second from the fourth lap; and

means for controlling air pressure within said hollow body to develop anair cushion between said web and said body by means of the apertures.

2. A soft web inverter arrangement comprising:

a hollow body having triangular, equilateral crosssection and definingsurface openings throughout a tortuous path therearound having a first,second, third and fourth lap portion with curved portions between eachof the laps;

guide means for presenting a soft web to said body so that it may followsaid tortuous path lap by lap;

an input step portion defining the level of the first lap and having athickness sufiicient to prevent contact of the web upon itself whiletraversing both the first lap and the third lap;

a second similar step portion defining the level of the fourth lap toseparate the second from the fourth lap; and

means for controlling air pressure within said hollow body at a levelforcing air through the openings to support the soft web throughout thetortuous path.

3. A web inverter as defined in claim 2 in which said guide means isarranged to present the soft web parallel to a second of the curvedportions so that the first and fourth laps are parallel.

4. A web inverter arrangement comprising:

a hollow body having a triangular cross section and defining a pluralityof rows of surface apertures extending throughout a tortuous paththerearound having a first, second, third and fourth lap portion withcurved portions between each of the laps;

guide means for presenting a web to said body so that it may follow saidtortuous path lap by lap;

an input step portion defining the level of the first lap and being of athickness sufiicient to prevent contact of the web upon itself whiletraversing both the first lap and the third lap; and

means for selectively controlling air pressure applied to each of therows of apertures to regulate the support: provided to each of thelateral portions of the we 5. A web inverter arrangement as defined inclaim 4 in which the tortuous path has the first and fourth lapsparallel.

6. A web inverter arrangement as defined in claim 5 in which the firstand fourth laps are aligned.

7. A web inverter arrangement comprising:

a hollow body of a generally triangular cross section, said bodydefining a plurality of surface apertures throughout a tortuous paththerearound so that a web following such path will fold upon itselfthree times;

a step portion on said body of a thickness sufiicient to prevent contactof the web upon itself when traversing said body in an overlappingrelationship; and

means for developing air pressure within said body sufficient to supportthe web throughout the region of the tortuous path defined by theapertures.

8. A web inverter arrangement as defined in claim 7 in which the surfaceapertures define a tortuous path in which a first and last lap thereofare aligned and means are provided to present the web to said hollowbody so that it follows such tortuous path.

9. A web inverter arrangement comprising:

a hollow body of a generally 45 right triangular plan cross section,said body defining a plurality of surface apertures throughout atortuous path therearound so that a web following such path will foldupon itself three times during traversal of four distinct laps;

means for guiding the web so that it approaches the surface apertures ofsaid body along a path perpendicular to the hypotenuse thereof wherebythe fourth lap is similarly perpendicular to the hypotenuse;

a step portion on said body of a thickness sufiicient to prevent contactof the web upon itself when traversing said body in an overlappingrelationship; and

means for developing air pressure within said body sufficient to supportthe web over the surface apertures throughout the region of the tortuouspath.

10. A web inverter arrangement comprising:

a hollow body of a 45 right triangular plan cross section, said bodydefining a plurality of rows of surface apertures throughout a tortuouspath therearound such that a soft web following such path will fold uponitself three times during traversal of four distinct laps;

means for guiding the soft web so that it approaches said body to entersuch path perpendicular to the hypotenuse of the right triangularportion thereof whereby the fourth lap is similarly perpendicular to thehypotenuse;

a step portion on said body of a thickness sufiicient to prevent contactof the soft web upon itself when traversing said body in an overlappingrelationship; and

means for developing air pressure within said body in the region of eachof the rows of surface apertures selectively sufficient to support thesoft web throughout the length of the tortuous path in accordance withthe width of the soft web.

11. A web inverter arrangement comprising:

a hollow body having a triangular cross section and defining a pluralityof rows of surface apertures extending throughout a tortuous paththerearound having a first, second, third and fourth lap portion withcurved portions between each of the laps;

guide means for presenting a soft web to said body so that it may followsaid tortuous path lap by lap;

a step portion defining the level of one of the laps and being of athickness sufficient to prevent contact of the soft web upon itselfwhile traversing both the one lap and another overlapping lap; and

means for selectively controlling air pressure applied to each of therows of apertures to regulate the support provided to each of thelateral portions of the soft web in accordance with the width of the weband its position laterally over the tortuous path.

12. A web inverter arrangement as set forth in claim 11 in which saidguide means is arranged to present the soft web at an angle such thatthe first lap and the fourth lap are parallel.

13. A web inverter arrangement comprising:

a hollow body having a triangular cross section and defining a pluralityof surface apertures extending throughout a tortuous path therearoundhaving a first, second, third and fourth lap portion with curvedportions between each of the laps;

guide means for presenting a soft web to said body so that it may followsaid tortuous path lap by lap;

a step portion defining the level of one of the laps and being of athickness sufficient to prevent contact of the soft web upon itselfwhile traversing both the one lap and another overlapping lap;

means for selectively controlling air pressure applied to the aperturesto regulate the support provided to the soft web; and

flanges along the outer edge of the tortuous path for reducing thelateral loss of air.

14. A web inverter arrangement comprising:

a hollow body having a triangular cross section and defining a pluralityof rows of surface apertures extending throughout a tortuous paththerearound having a first, second, third and fourth lap portion withcurved portions between each of the laps;

guide means for presenting a soft web to said body so that it may followsaid tortuous path lap by lap;

a step portion defining the level of one of the laps and being of athickness suflicient to prevent contact of the soft web upon itselfwhile traversing both the one lap and another overlapping lap;

means for selectively controlling air pressure applied to each of therows of apertures to regulate the support provided to each of thelateral portions of the soft web in accordance with the width of the weband its position laterally over the tortuous path; and

flanges along the outer edge of the tortuous path for reducing thelateral loss of air.

Taylor June 10, 1884 Meyer May 31, 1929

7. A WEB INVERTER ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING: A HOLLOW BODY OF A GENERALLYTRIANGULAR CROSS SECTION, SAID BODY DEFINING A PLURALITY OF SURFACEAPERTURES THROUGHOUT A TORTUOUS PATH THEREAROUND SO THAT A WEB FOLLOWINGSUCH PATH WILL FOLD UPON ITSELF THREE TIMES; A STEP PORTION ON SAID BODYOF A THICKNESS SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT CONTACT OF THE WEB UPON ITSELF WHENTRAVERSING SAID BODY IN AN OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP; AND MEANS FORDEVELOPING AIR PRESSURE WITHIN SAID BODY SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT THE WEBTHROUGHOUT THE REGION OF THE TORTUOUS PATH DEFINED BY THE APERTURES.